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Attitudes to Welfare Turn Hostile Because of Low Trust in Government

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“New research using Democratic Forums (large two-day discussion groups) shows that many people reject the welfare state not through commitment to neo-liberalism but because they don’t think government is able to make their lives better. Peter Taylor-Gooby, project leader of NORFACE Welfare State Futures project WelfSOC, outlines the findings of research that used deliberative forums to examine attitudes towards welfare. He concludes that what lay behind the views expressed was a mistrust in the capacity of the government to address the issues that most people face. It is this lack of trust that turns people against the welfare system rather than an ideological commitment to neoliberalism.”

Read more on LSE Blog on British Politics and Policy.